Drama as Imo AG, predecessor disrupt court proceeding

Imo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Soronadi Njoku and his predecessor, Ken Njemanze, yesterday disrupted court proceedings in the case of former Deputy Governor Jude Agbaso and the House of Assembly, the Speaker, Clerk and the Chief Judge, when the duo engaged in am open confrontation.

It, however, took the intervention of other lawyers and law enforcement agents to restore normalcy to the court.

The Nation gathered that Njemanze was in court for a private business.

Counsel to the applicant Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) asked the court through Alex Williams to grant leave for the withdrawal of his notice of continuance filed on April 8.

He asked to file in its place a motion on notice for the leave of the court to discontinue the suit.

Alex Williams said because the motion was not contentious he would like to proceed with it.

Lead counsel to the first, second and third respondents Akintola Williams (SAN) acknowledged receipt of the notice before the court’s sitting.

He held that the matter had been argued, stressing that Order 3 Rule 2 does not apply in the matter.

Williams asked the court to dismiss the matter.

In his submission, Njoku also admitted being served the motion on notice.

He contended that “the parties have exchanged all their processes, especially their affidavit.

“The effect in law is that evidence has been made. What we have come to do today is to adopt our submission based on evidence laid before the court.”

He said the “proper order the court ought to make is an order of dismissal.”

At this point, Justice Florence Duruohaigwe asked the applicant whether he had made application or moved the motion for withdrawal of the initial process filed on April 8 because, according to her, she did not record him as having formally moved the motion for the withdrawal of the matter.

Alex Williams said he accepted the record of the court on the matter, arguing that he wanted a date to enable the lead counsel to be present.

He said Ikwueto could not come to the court because he was indisposed.

At this response, the Attorney-General flared up, describing the action as irresponsible.

He said the counsel had earlier stated that he was instructed by the lead counsel to withdraw the matter only to deny again.

Njoku alleged that the former Attorney-General whispered to him not to accept withdrawal.

This led to an outburst between the commissioner and his predecessor.

Emotions became high that the judge left the court for about 15 minutes to allow the situation to normalise.

At the resumed sitting, she said she left the court because of the altercation.

Williams apologised for the behaviour of his colleagues. Each of them also apologised for the “embarrassing conduct.”